FIB USU PR - on September 3, 2026 The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Sumatera Utara (FIB USU) welcomed representatives of the Toba Regency Government, through the Toba Regency Office of Culture and Tourism, for the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) and discussions on collaborative initiatives related to the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. The meeting was held at the FIB USU Meeting Room.
The event was welcomed by Mhd. Pujiono, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D., Dean of FIB USU, and Andi Pratama Lubis, S.S., M.Hum., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Internationalization, together with the Vice Deans, managers, and heads and secretaries of study programs across FIB USU. The participation of the faculty’s leadership and study program representatives underscored FIB USU’s commitment to strengthening institutional partnerships with regional governments.
Representing the Toba Regency Government was Drs. Rikardo Hutajulu, M.Pd., Head of the Toba Regency Office of Culture and Tourism, accompanied by Darwin Sianipar, S.Pt., M.Si., Expert Staff to the Regent for Economic Affairs, Development, Finance, Natural Resources, and Assets; Rio Ardian, S.IP.; Nomi Sembiring, S.Sos.; and Meida Silalahi, S.E., from the Government Administration and Cooperation Division of the Toba Regency Secretariat.
The delegation also included Tri Enjelia Banurea, S.Sos. and Misferi Simanjuntak, S.E., from the People's Welfare Division of the Toba Regency Secretariat; Jafar Aritonang, S.T., M.Si., Head of the Development Administration Division of the Toba Regency Secretariat; as well as Rizky Dewantara, S.T. and Albert R. Pardede, S.H., staff members of the Development Administration Division of the Toba Regency Secretariat.
In his remarks, Drs. Rikardo Hutajulu, M.Pd., expressed his appreciation for the establishment of cooperation between the Toba Regency Government, through the Office of Culture and Tourism, and FIB USU. He emphasized that the signing of the MoA represents a strategic step toward strengthening collaboration between the regional government and higher education institutions, particularly in the fields of culture and tourism development in Toba Regency.
The collaboration with FIB USU is expected to create broader opportunities for developing the region’s cultural potential and resources through academic and scholarly approaches. The partnership is also expected to be translated into various programs supporting the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, encompassing education, research, and community service.
Furthermore, the cooperation is expected to extend beyond the formal signing of the MoA and lead to concrete programs that generate benefits for the regional government, the academic community, and the people of Toba Regency.
From FIB USU’s perspective, the establishment and development of this partnership form part of the faculty’s commitment to expanding its academic contribution in addressing the needs of communities and regional governments. The fields of culture, history, language, literature, and the humanities developed at FIB USU offer significant opportunities for collaboration in supporting regional development.
The event continued with a discussion on Tri Dharma of Higher Education activities, as outlined in the official agenda for the MoA signing. The discussion provided a forum for both institutions to identify potential areas of cooperation and collaborative programs that can be developed and implemented sustainably.
The MoA between FIB USU and the Toba Regency Government, through the Office of Culture and Tourism, is expected to serve as a foundation for implementing a range of collaborative initiatives. The involvement of study programs at FIB USU is also expected to strengthen the implementation of the partnership in areas aligned with their respective academic expertise.
Through this partnership, FIB USU continues to promote strategic partnerships with regional governments as part of its efforts to enhance the relevance of higher education and contribute meaningfully to community development.
The collaboration further reinforces FIB USU’s role in supporting the preservation and development of culture and knowledge-based tourism, while creating broader opportunities for lecturers and students to contribute through education, research, and community service.